The only place in the EU where women cannot visit

 

 

 

What do I have in common with the people who live here? We both think that we have “a particular calling [and] a very special way for a man to serve God and Humanity” as they put it.  But unlike myself who chooses to integrate with society to spread God’s message, these Greek Orthodox monks live in an area called Mount Athos in Northern Greece, a place that can only be visited by boat and you need special legal permission just to enter.

 

I have to admit, it’s quite fascinating to take a virtual walk through their living quarters or see panoramic views of the beautiful Aegean Sea and the remnants of their castles that were erected to fight off enemies throughout the centuries.  It’s interesting to see that despite constant defense against various rulers, when the Ottoman Empire conquered that area, they admit that the Ottoman Sultans gave them independence and administrative autonomy as long as they pay a tax (for military protection under Muslim rule).

Of course, as a Muslim, the part I don’t agree with is the need for isolation and marital abstinence in order to reach God.  From what I see on their website, they do the acts of worship like pray, fast and seek solitude, which are acts that we seek as well but the solitude we encourage is temporal solitude like setting aside time for prayer five times a day, waking up for prayer in the middle of the night or even doing I’tikaf, spending the last 10 nights of Ramadan in the mosque in solitude. 

Allah rebukes monasticism (from Greek μοναχός, monachos, derived from Greek monos, alone) as a man-made practice that is not divinely prescribed as shown in this ayah,

…we sent after them Jesus the son of Mary, and bestowed on him the Gospel; and We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him Compassion and Mercy. But the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them: (We commanded) only the seeking for the Good Pleasure of Allah; but that they did not foster as they should have done… (Qur’an 57:27)

Once, one of my relatives (who is non-Muslim) was doing some soul searching and asked me if he should visit this area.  He was expecting me to tell him to stay far away and to follow Islam but you know, in reality, I told him to go because if you are looking for God and the truth and are sincere about it, pray to God to show you that truth and He will definitely show you, wherever you are in the world.

It’s just too bad that I can’t go visit this area because I would have liked to have a peaceful observation and discussion with the monks there.  Too bad I’m a woman.  Apparently, there was an incident in the 1930s where Aliki Diplarakou, the first Greek beauty pageant contestant to win the Miss Europe title, shocked the world when she dressed up as a man and sneaked into Mount Athos.  Unfortunately, I don’t think I can do something like that!